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Hiko Tanaka

ひこ・たなか

Hiko Tanaka

Pen Names: Hiko Tanaka（Pen name (legal name: Masahiko Tanaka)）, Masahiko Tanaka（Legal name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1953-02-08 （Osaka Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Children's literature author, Translator, Literary critic
Active Years
1990-
Memberships
Japan PEN Club, Japan Children's Literature Association

Education

Doshisha University
Faculty of Letters / Department of Literature
Country: Japan

Awards

Mukuhatoju Children's Literature Award
1990
Work: O-hikkoshi (Moving)
Organization: Mukuhatoju Award Committee
Result: winner
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award (JR Prize)
1997
Work: Gomen (Sorry)
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: winner
Japan Children's Literature Association Award (57th)
2017
Work: Naritatae Chugakusei (Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced)
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Association
Result: winner
Japan Children's Literature Association Award (64th)
2024
Work: Ashita, Bento o Tsukuru.
Organization: Japan Children's Literature Association
Result: winner
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Children's Welfare Culture Award (recommended)
2021
Work: Let's is Hungry (Let’s wa Onaka)
Organization: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Result: recommended

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

O-hikkoshi (Moving)

1990 Children's literature

A children's novel that portrays the emotions and daily life surrounding a family's move.

familygrowing upeveryday life
Adaptations
  • [Film] O-hikkoshi (Moving) / 相米慎二
Translations
  • -

Gomen (Sorry)

1996 Children's literature

A children's story themed around apology and friendship.

friendshipconflictforgiveness
Adaptations
  • [Film] Gomen (Sorry) / 冨樫森
Translations
  • -

Let's wa Onaka (Let's is Hungry)

2020 Picture book

A picture book depicting eating and bodily changes from a child's perspective.

eating habitsbody awarenesshumor
Translations
  • -

Naritatae Chugakusei: Beginner

2015 Children/YA

First volume of a series depicting the feelings and daily life of newly minted junior high students.

growing upfriendshipschool life
Translations
  • -

Naritatae Chugakusei: Intermediate

2015 Children/YA

Middle volume of the series, depicting emotions and events specific to junior high students.

selfhoodconflictfriendship
Translations
  • -

Naritatae Chugakusei: Advanced

2016 Children/YA

Final volume of the series, illustrating milestones of growth.

maturitychoiceshope
Translations
  • -

Ashita, Bento o Tsukuru.

2024 Children's literature

A short story collection showing how small everyday acts connect family and children's hearts.

familydaily routinescompassion
Translations
  • -

Bibliography

  • O-hikkoshi (1990)
  • Calendar (1992)
  • Gomen (1996)
  • Children's Literature Course for Adults (2005)
  • Strange Stories of Children (2011)
  • Santa-san, Geez! (2012)
  • Hittsukimushi (2013)
  • Haru and Kana (2016)
  • Hetananyo (2017)
  • I'm Reading a Book. (2019)
  • Colin's Shop Opening (2019)

Adaptations

  • O-hikkoshi (film adaptation)

Translations by Author

  • Winnie-the-Pooh (translator, 2003)
  • Pike-kyo the Chick (translator, 2018)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
warm, accessible narrationchild-centered perspective
Recurring Motifs
family daily lifechildhood growthimportance of small events

Legacy

Hiko Tanaka is a long-standing author and critic in Japanese children's literature, praised for a warm style from a child's perspective. He is widely known through awards and film adaptations.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Children's Literature Association

Trivia

  • Legal name is Masahiko Tanaka.
  • Runs the website '児童文学書評' (Children's Literature Reviews).
  • Active on X (formerly Twitter) as @hicotanaka.
  • Several works have been adapted into films.